Divine Office Office of Readings

April 18th, 2026 – Invitatory – Divine Office: Liturgy of the Hours

Lord, open my lips. — And my mouth will proclaim your praise. Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia. Psalm 100 Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing for joy. Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia. Know that he, the Lord, is God. He made us, we belong to him, we are his people, the sheep of his flock. Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia. Go within his gates, giving thanks. Enter his courts with songs of praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia. Indeed, how good is the Lord, eternal his merciful love. He is faithful from age to age. Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.

April 18th, 2026 – Office of Readings – Divine Office: Liturgy of the Hours

Ribbon Placement: Liturgy of the Hours Vol. II: Ordinary: 1045 Proper of Seasons: 683 Psalter: Saturday, Week II, 1339 Office of Readings for Saturday in Week 2 of Easter God, come to my assistance. — Lord, make haste to help me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia. HYMN Ave Maria, gratia plena Dominus tecum Benedicta tu in mulieribus Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus Sancta Maria, Mater Dei Ora pro nobis peccatoribus Nunc et in hora mortis nostrae Amen. English Translation: Hail Mary, full of grace The Lord is with thee Blessed are thou among women Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus Holy Mary, Mother of God Pray for us sinners Now, and at the hour of our death Amen. 𝄞"Ave Maria" by Gretchen Harris [http://www.gretchen-harris.com] • Musical Score [https://divineoffice.org/wp-content/uploads/Ave-Maria-CHANT-Mode-I-DivOfcOrg-C-orig.pdf] • Title: Ave Maria (Chant); Album: Sing of Mary; Music; Plainsong mode I; vocal: Gretchen Harris; Used with permission; Visit and thank Gretch at http://www.gretchen-harris.com; PSALMODY Ant. 1 Remember us, O Lord; come with your saving help, alleluia. Psalm 106 The goodness of the Lord; the faithlessness of his people These things have been written for a warning for us, for we are living at the end of the ages (1 Corinthians 10:11). I O give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his love endures for ever. Who can tell the Lord’s mighty deeds? Who can recount all his praise? They are happy who do what is right, who at all times do what is just. O Lord, remember me out of the love you have for your people. Come to me, Lord, with your help that I may see the joy of your chosen ones and may rejoice in the gladness of your nation and share the glory of your people. Our sin is the sin of our fathers; we have done wrong, our deeds have been evil. Our fathers when they were in Egypt paid no heed to your wonderful deeds. They forgot the greatness of your love, at the Red Sea defied the Most High. Yet he saved them for the sake of his name, in order to make known his power. He threatened the Red Sea; it dried up and he led them through the deep as through the desert. He saved them from the hand of the foe; he saved them from the grip of the enemy. The waters covered their oppressors; not one of them was left alive. Then they believed in his words: then they sang his praises. But they soon forgot his deeds and would not wait upon his will. They yielded to their cravings in the desert and put God to the test in the wilderness. He granted them the favor they asked and sent disease among them. Then they rebelled, envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was holy to the Lord. The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and buried the clan of Abiram. Fire blazed up against their clan and flames devoured the rebels. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Ant. Remember us, O Lord; come with your saving help, alleluia. Ant. 2 Keep it carefully in mind; the Lord your God has made a covenant with you, alleluia. II They fashioned a calf at Horeb and worshipped an image of metal, exchanging the God who was their glory for the image of a bull that eats grass. They forgot the God who was their savior, who had done such great things in Egypt, such portents in the land of Ham, such marvels at the Red Sea. For this he said he would destroy them, but Moses, the man he had chosen, stood in the breach before him, to turn back his anger from destruction. Then they scorned the land of promise; they had no faith in his word. They complained inside their tents and would not listen to the voice of the Lord. So he raised his hand to swear an oath that he would lay them low in the desert; would scatter their sons among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands. They bowed before the Baal of Peor; ate offerings made to lifeless gods. They roused him to anger with their deeds and plague broke out among them. Then Phinehas stood up and intervened. Thus the plague was ended and this was counted in his favor from age to age for ever. They provoked him at the waters of Meribah. Through their fault it went ill with Moses; for they made his heart grow bitter and he uttered words that were rash. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Ant. Keep it carefully in mind; the Lord your God has made a covenant with you, alleluia. Ant. 3 Save your people, Lord; bring us together from among the nations, alleluia. III They failed to destroy the peoples as the Lord had given command, but instead they mingled with the nations and learned to act as they did. They worshipped the idols of the nations and these became a snare to entrap them. They even offered their own sons and their daughters in sacrifice to demons. They shed the blood of the innocent, the blood of their sons and daughters whom they offered to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted with blood. So they defiled themselves by their deeds and broke their marriage bond with the Lord till his anger blazed against his people; he was filled with horror at his chosen ones. So he gave them into the hand of the nations and their foes became their rulers. Their enemies became their oppressors; they were subdued beneath their hand. Time after time God rescued them, but in their malice they dared to defy him and sank low through their guilt. In spite of this he paid heed to their distress, so often as he heard their cry. For their sake he remembered his covenant. In the greatness of his love he relented and he let them be treated with mercy by all who held them captive. O Lord, our God, save us! Bring us together from among the nations that we may thank your holy name and make it our glory to praise you. Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, for ever, from age to age. Let all the people cry out: “Amen! Amen!” Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Psalm-prayer God, our Creator, how wonderfully you made man. You transformed dust into your own image and gave it a share in your own nature; yet you are more wonderful in pardoning the man who had rebelled against you. Grant that where sin has abounded, grace may more abound, so that we can become holier through forgiveness and be more grateful to you. Ant. Save your people, Lord; bring us together from among the nations, alleluia. Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) A moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church. God has given us a new birth into living hope, alleluia. — By raising Jesus Christ from the dead, alleluia. READINGS First reading From the book of Revelation 5:1-14 The vision of the Lamb In the right hand of the One who sat on the throne I, John, saw a scroll. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could be found to open the scroll or examine its contents. I wept bitterly because no one could be found worthy to open or examine the scroll. One of the elders said to me: “Do not weep. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has won the right by his victory to open the scroll with the seven seals.” Then, between the throne with the four living creatures and the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, a Lamb that had been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these eyes are the seven spirits of God, sent to all parts of the world. The Lamb came and received the scroll from the right hand of the One who sat on the throne. When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Along with their harps, the elders were holding vessels of gold filled with aromatic spices, which were the prayers of God’s holy people. This is the new hymn they sang: “Worthy are you to receive the scroll and break open its seals, for you were slain. With your blood you purchased for God men of every race and tongue, of every people and nation. You made of them a kingdom, and priests to serve our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” As my vision continued, I heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless in number, thousands and tens of thousands, and they all cried out: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard the voices of every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea; everything in the universe cried aloud: “To the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!” The four living creatures answered, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. RESPONSORY Revelation 5:9, 10 Worthy are you, Lord, to take the book and open its seals, for you were slain for us. — With your blood you have purchased us for God, alleluia. You have made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God. — With your blood you have purchased us for God, alleluia. Second reading From the constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council God’s plan of salvation In his desire that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, God spoke in former times to our forefathers through the prophets, on many occasions and in different ways. Then, in the fullness of time he sent his Son, the Word made man, anointed by the Holy Spirit, to bring good news to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted as the physician of body and spirit and the mediator between God and men. In the unity of the person of the Word, his human nature was the instrument of our salvation. Thus in Christ there has come to be the perfect atonement that reconciles us with God, and we have been given the power to offer the fullness of divine worship. This work of man’s redemption and God’s perfect glory was foreshadowed by God’s mighty deeds among the people of the Old Covenant. It was brought to fulfillment by Christ the Lord, especially through the paschal mystery of his blessed passion, resurrection from the dead and ascension in glory: by dying he destroyed our death, and by rising again he restored our life. From his side, as he lay asleep on the cross, was born that wonderful sacrament which is the Church in its entirety. As Christ was sent by the Father, so in his turn he sent the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit. They were sent to preach the Gospel to every creature, proclaiming that we had been set free from the power of Satan and from death by the death and resurrection of God’s Son, and brought into the kingdom of the Father. They were sent also to bring into effect this saving work that they proclaimed, by means of the sacrifice and sacraments that are the pivot of the whole life of the liturgy. So, by baptism men are brought within the paschal mystery. Dead with Christ, buried with Christ, risen with Christ, they receive the Spirit that makes them God’s adopted children, crying out: Abba, Father; and so they become the true adorers that the Father seeks. In the same way, whenever they eat the supper of the Lord they proclaim his death until he comes. So, on the very day of Pentecost, on which the Church was manifested to the world, those who received the word of Peter were baptized. They remained steadfast in the teaching of the apostles and in the communion of the breaking of bread, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. From that time onward the Church has never failed to come together to celebrate the paschal mystery, by reading what was written about him in every part of Scripture, by celebrating the Eucharist in which the victory and triumph of his death are shown forth, and also by giving thanks to God for the inexpressible gift he has given in Christ Jesus, to the praise of God’s glory. RESPONSORY John 15:1, 7, 9 I am the true vine and you are the branches. — Whoever lives in me and I in him brings forth much fruit, alleluia. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; live on in my love. — Whoever lives in me and I in him brings forth much fruit, alleluia. CONCLUDING PRAYER Set aside, O Lord, the bond of sentence written for us by the law of sin, which in the Paschal Mystery you canceled through the Resurrection of Christ your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. — Amen. ACCLAMATION (at least in the communal celebration) Let us praise the Lord. — And give him thanks.

April 18th, 2026 – Morning Prayer – Divine Office: Liturgy of the Hours

Ribbon Placement: Liturgy of the Hours Vol. II: Ordinary: 1049 Proper of Seasons: 687 Psalter: Saturday, Week II, 1345 Christian Prayer: Ordinary: 689 Proper of Seasons: 471 Psalter: Saturday, Week II, 845 Morning Prayer for Saturday in Week 2 of Easter God, come to my assistance. — Lord, make haste to help me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia. HYMN God, whose almighty word Chaos and darkness heard And took their flight: Hear us, we humbly pray, And where the Gospel day Sheds not its glorious ray, Let there be light! Saviour, who came to give, Those who in darkness live, Healing and sight, Help those who seek to find, Heal those whose hearts are blind, And in each humble mind Let there be light! Spirit of truth and love, Life-giving, holy dove, Speed forth your flight; Move on the water’s face, Bearing the lamp of grace, And in earth’s darkest place Let there be light! Holy and blessed three, Glorious Trinity, Wisdom, Love, Might! Boundless as ocean’s tide, Rolling in fullest pride, Through the earth, far and wide, Let there be light! 𝄞"God, Whose Almighty Word" by Rebecca Hincke • Available for Purchase [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NTQ6HGQ/ref=dm_ws_tlw_trk5] • Musical Score [https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/divineoffice/God_Whose_Almighty_Word.pdf] • Title: God, Whose Almighty Word; Text: John Marriot, 1813. Music: Dort Lowell Mason, 1832; Artist: Rebecca Hincke; (c) 2016 Surgeworks, Inc. • Albums that contain this Hymn: Hymns and Chants of Divine Office, Vol. 4 PSALMODY Ant. 1 You have filled me with gladness, Lord, I will sing for joy at the works of your hands, alleluia. Psalm 92 Praise of God the Creator Sing in praise of Christ’s redeeming work (Saint Athanasius). It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your truth in the watches of the night, on the ten-stringed lyre and the lute, with the murmuring sound of the harp. Your deeds, O Lord, have made me glad; for the work of your hands I shout with joy. O Lord, how great are your works! How deep are your designs! The foolish man cannot know this and the fool cannot understand. Though the wicked spring up like grass and all who do evil thrive, they are doomed to be eternally destroyed. But you, Lord, are eternally on high. See how your enemies perish; all doers of evil are scattered. To me you give the wild ox’s strength; you anoint me with the purest oil. My eyes looked in triumph on my foes; my ears heard gladly of their fall. The just will flourish like the palm tree and grow like a Lebanon cedar. Planted in the house of the Lord they will flourish in the courts of our God, still bearing fruit when they are old, still full of sap, still green, to proclaim that the Lord is just. In him, my rock, there is no wrong. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Psalm-prayer Take our shame away from us, Lord, and make us rejoice in your saving works. May all who have been chosen by your Son always abound in works of faith, hope, and love in your service. Ant. You have filled me with gladness, Lord, I will sing for joy at the works of your hands, alleluia. Ant. 2 It is I who bring death and I who give life; I inflict injury and I bring healing, alleluia. Canticle – Deuteronomy 32:1-12 God’s kindness to his people How often I have longed to gather your children as a hen gathers her brood under her wing (Matthew 23:37). Give ear, O heavens, while I speak; let the earth hearken to the words of my mouth! May my instruction soak in like the rain, and my discourse permeate like the dew, like a downpour upon the grass, like a shower upon the crops: For I will sing the Lord’s renown. Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God! The Rock—how faultless are his deeds, how right all his ways! A faithful God, without deceit, how just and upright he is! Yet basely has he been treated by his degenerate children, a perverse and crooked race! Is the Lord to be thus repaid by you, O stupid and foolish people? Is he not your father who created you? Has he not made you and established you? Think back on the days of old, reflect on the years of age upon age. Ask your father and he will inform you, ask your elders and they will tell you: When the Most High assigned the nations their heritage, when he parceled out the descendants of Adam, he set up the boundaries of the peoples after the number of the sons of God; While the Lord’s own portion was Jacob, his hereditary share was Israel. He found them in a wilderness, a wasteland of howling desert. He shielded them and cared for them, guarding them as the apple of his eye. As an eagle incites its nestlings forth by hovering over its brood, so he spread his wings to receive them and bore them up on his pinions. The Lord alone was their leader, no strange god was with him. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Ant. It is I who bring death and I who give life; I inflict injury and I bring healing, alleluia. Ant. 3 You have crowned your Anointed One with glory and honor, alleluia. Psalm 8 The majesty of the Lord and man’s dignity The Father gave Christ lordship of creation and made him head of the Church (Ephesians 1:22). How great is your name, O Lord our God, through all the earth! Your majesty is praised above the heavens; on the lips of children and of babes you have found praise to foil your enemy, to silence the foe and the rebel. When I see the heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and the stars which you arranged, what is man that you should keep him in mind, mortal man that you care for him? Yet you have made him little less than a god; with glory and honor you crowned him, gave him power over the works of your hands, put all things under his feet. All of them, sheep and cattle, yes, even the savage beasts, birds of the air, and fish that make their way through the waters. How great is your name, O Lord our God through all the earth! Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Psalm-prayer Almighty Lord, how wonderful is your name. You have made every creature subject to you; make us worthy to give you service. Ant. You have crowned your Anointed One with glory and honor, alleluia. READING Romans 14:7-9 None of us lives as his own master and none of us dies as his own master. While we live we are responsible to the Lord, and when we die we die as his servants. Both in life and in death we are the Lord’s. That is why Christ died and came to life again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Sacred Silence(indicated by a bell) – a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church. RESPONSORY The Lord is risen from the tomb, alleluia, alleluia. — The Lord is risen from the tomb, alleluia, alleluia. He hung upon the cross for us, — alleluia, alleluia. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, — The Lord is risen from the tomb, alleluia, alleluia. CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH Ant. Peace be with you; it is I, alleluia; do not be afraid, alleluia. Luke 1:68 – 79 The Messiah and his forerunner Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his holy prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Ant. Peace be with you; it is I, alleluia; do not be afraid, alleluia. INTERCESSIONS Christ has made known to us the life that lasts for ever. With faith and joy let us cry out to him, saying: Lord, may your resurrection bring us the riches of your grace. Eternal shepherd, look on your flock as it rises from sleep, — feed us with the word of life and the bread from heaven. Lord, may your resurrection bring us the riches of your grace. Keep us safe from wolf and hireling, — and make us faithful in listening to your voice. Lord, may your resurrection bring us the riches of your grace. You are present to all who preach your Gospel, and give power to their words, — make us today preachers of your resurrection by our holiness of life. Lord, may your resurrection bring us the riches of your grace. Be our great joy that no one can take from us, — so that we may reject sin with its sadness, and reach out to eternal life. Lord, may your resurrection bring us the riches of your grace. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Concluding Prayer Set aside, O Lord, the bond of sentence written for us by the law of sin, which in the Paschal Mystery you canceled through the Resurrection of Christ your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. — Amen. DISMISSAL May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. — Amen.

April 18th, 2026 – Midmorning Prayer – Divine Office: Liturgy of the Hours

Ribbon Placement: Liturgy of the Hours Vol. II: Ordinary: 1054 Complementary Psalmody: 1651 (Midmorning) Proper of Seasons: 688 (antiphon, reading, concluding prayer) Midmorning Prayer for Saturday in Week 2 of Easter, using the Complementary Psalmody God, come to my assistance. — Lord, make haste to help me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia. HYMN Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do. Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure, until with thee I have one will, to do and to endure. Breathe on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly thine, till all this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine. Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die, but live with thee the perfect life of thine eternity. 𝄞"O Breathe on Me, Breath of God" by Jane Chifley And Pat McGrath • Musical Score [https://divineoffice.org/wp-content/uploads/O-Breathe-on-Me-Breath-of-God.pdf] • Title: Breathe on Me, Breath of God; Text: Edwin Hatch, 1835-1889; Music: Robert Jackson, 1842-1914; Tune: TRENTHAM, Meter: SM; Artist: Jane Chifley And Pat McGrath; Used by permission PSALMODY Ant. 1 Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Psalm 120 Longing for peace To the Lord in the hour of my distress I call and he answers me. “O Lord, save my soul from lying lips, from the tongue of the deceitful.” What shall he pay you in return, O treacherous tongue? The warrior’s arrows sharpened and coals, red-hot, blazing. Alas, that I abide a stranger in Meshech, dwell among the tents of Kedar! Long enough have I been dwelling with those who hate peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for fighting. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Psalm 121 Guardian of his people Never again will they hunger and thirst, never again know scorching heat (Revelation 7:16) I lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall come my help? My help shall come from the Lord who made heaven and earth. May he never allow you to stumble! Let him sleep not, your guard. No, he sleeps not nor slumbers, Israel’s guard. The Lord is your guard and your shade; at your right side he stands. By day the sun shall not smite you nor the moon in the night. The Lord will guard you from evil, he will guard your soul. The Lord will guard your going and coming both now and for ever. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Psalm 122 The holy city, Jerusalem You have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22) I rejoiced when I heard them say: Let us go to God’s house. And now our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built as a city strongly compact. It is there that the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord. For Israel’s law it is, there to praise the Lord’s name. There were set the thrones of judgment of the house of David. For the peace of Jerusalem pray: “Peace be to your homes! May peace reign in your walls, in your palaces, peace!” For love of my brethren and friends I say: Peace upon you. For love of the house of the Lord I will ask for your good. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Ant. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. READING Romans 5:10-11 If, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him by the death of his Son, it is all the more certain that we who have been reconciled will be saved by his life. Not only that; we go so far as to make God our boast through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) A moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church. The Lord is risen, alleluia. — He has appeared to Simon, alleluia. CONCLUDING PRAYER Set aside, O Lord, the bond of sentence written for us by the law of sin, which in the Paschal Mystery you canceled through the Resurrection of Christ your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. — Amen. ACCLAMATION (only added when praying in community) Let us praise the Lord. — And give him thanks.

April 18th, 2026 – Midday Prayer – Divine Office: Liturgy of the Hours

Ribbon Placement: Liturgy of the Hours Vol. II: Ordinary: 1054 Proper of Seasons: 689 Psalter: Saturday, Week II, 1350 Midday Prayer for Saturday in Week 2 of Easter, using the Current Psalmody God, come to my assistance. — Lord, make haste to help me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia. HYMN Chorus: The Lord is my shepherd; There is nothing I shall want. The Lord is my shepherd; There is nothing I shall want. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Chorus: The Lord is my shepherd; There is nothing I shall want. The Lord is my shepherd; There is nothing I shall want. Beside restful waters He leads me; He refreshes my soul. He guides me in right paths for His name’s sake. Chorus: The Lord is my shepherd; There is nothing I shall want. The Lord is my shepherd; There is nothing I shall want. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. Chorus: The Lord is my shepherd; There is nothing I shall want. The Lord is my shepherd; There is nothing I shall want. 𝄞"The Lord is My Shepherd" by Bill Goyette [http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=580305] • Musical Score [http://traffic.libsyn.com/divineoffice/The_Lord_Is_My_Shepherd_Psalm23_by_Bill_Goyette.pdf] • Text: Based on Psalm 23; Music: William R. Goyette; Arrangement: Michael V. Guzman and Cesar Marquez; (c) 1997 William R. Goyette; Licensed under Creative Commons PSALMODY Ant. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Psalm 119:81-88 XI (Caph) I yearn for your saving help; I hope in your word. My eyes yearn to see your promise. When will you console me? Though parched and exhausted with waiting I have not forgotten your commands. How long must your servant suffer? When will you judge my foes? For me the proud have dug pitfalls, against your law. Your commands are all true; then help me when lies oppress me. They almost made an end of me on earth but I kept your precepts. Because of your love give me life and I will do your will. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Psalm-prayer When evil seems to triumph, Lord, and our hope begins to fail, give us courage and perseverance in doing your will. Psalm 61 Prayer of an exile The prayer of the just man who places his hope in the things of heaven (Saint Hilary). O God, hear my cry! Listen to my prayer! From the end of the earth I call: my heart is faint. On the rock too high for me to reach set me on high, O you who have been my refuge, my tower against the foe. Let me dwell in your tent for ever and hide in the shelter of your wings. For you, O God, hear my prayer, grant me the heritage of those who fear you. May you lengthen the life of the king: may his years cover many generations. May he sit ever enthroned before God: bid love and truth be his protection. So I will always praise your name and day after day fulfill my vows. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Psalm-prayer Lord Jesus, love and truth of the Father, you came to earth to relieve the pain of our exile, you took our weakness as your own. Uphold us when our hearts grow faint until we stand with you before God and praise your name. Psalm 64 Prayer for help against enemies This psalm commemorates most particularly our Lord’s passion (Saint Augustine). Hear my voice, O God, as I complain, guard my life from dread of the foe. Hide me from the band of the wicked, from the throng of those who do evil. They sharpen their tongues like swords; they aim bitter words like arrows to shoot at the innocent from ambush, shooting suddenly and recklessly. They scheme their evil course; they conspire to lay secret snares. They say: “Who will see us? Who can search out our crimes?” He will search who searches the mind and knows the depth of the heart. God has shot them with his arrow and dealt them sudden wounds. Their own tongue has brought them to ruin and all who see them mock. Then will all men fear; they will tell what God has done. They will understand God’s deeds. The just will rejoice in the Lord and fly to him for refuge. All the upright hearts will glory. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Psalm-prayer Father, you gave your Son victory over those who plotted evil against him; when he cried to you in his agony, you delivered him from the fear of his enemies. May those who suffer with him in this life find refuge and success in you. Ant. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. READING 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 Christ is now raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Death came through a man; hence the resurrection of the dead comes through a man also. Just as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will come to life again. Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) A moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church. The disciples rejoiced, alleluia. — When they saw the risen Lord, alleluia. CONCLUDING PRAYER Set aside, O Lord, the bond of sentence written for us by the law of sin, which in the Paschal Mystery you canceled through the Resurrection of Christ your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. — Amen. ACCLAMATION (only added when praying in community) Let us praise the Lord. — And give him thanks.